Pruning device



Feb. 9 1926.

WITNESS:

F. H.- BLODGETT PRUNING DEVICE Filed August 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Traci/215E02 em INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,100 F. H. BLODGETT PRUNING DEVICE Filed ug 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

FRED H. BLODGETT, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRUNING DEVICE.

Application filedAugust 24, 1923.

Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Finn) H. BLoocn'r'r, a. citizen oi? the United States, residing at lVakeiield, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pruning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a pruning device which may be used as is a pair of shears when the limbs or branches of a tree to be pruned are close to the operator or which may be provided with a sectional pole for arranging the same at varying desired lengths and the movable blade thereof operated by a pull on a cord or cable attached thereto and guided through suitable pulleys on the pole.

A. further object is to produce apruning device in which the movable blade is so constructed as to direct the limb of a tree to be pruned against the stationary blade, and wherein the movable blade is actuated in a manner to insure the free cutting of the device at a minimum physical exertion by the operator.

The foregoing and many other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and op rative association of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pruning device in accordance with this invention, the same being supported on a pole.

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof with the movable blade swung over the stationary blade.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the construction as disclosed in Figure 2, the pole being removed and the operating handle for the movable blade being looked.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the 44- of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the 6-45 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the 7-'? of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail to illustrate the manner in which the pole sections are removably connected.

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Serial No. 659,228.

Figure 9 is an edge view of the operating handle.

The stationary blade of my improvement is, in the drawings, indicated by the numeral 1. This blade is formed at one end of a fiat shank 2, the said shank having at its end a socket 3 in which is received a ferrule on one end of a pole section 4. Means 5 is passed between the socket and the portion of the pole section 4- received therein for removably locking these parts together. In the showing of Figure 1 of the drawings, the outer end of the pole section 5 is received in a socket 6 formed on or secured to the upper end of a lower pole section 7, and removable means 8 secure the sections t and 7 together.

Fixed on the pole section 4 there is a bracket 9, the same centrally carrying a substantially rectangular housing 10 whose outer and lower walls are wholly open and whose top wall is partly open. In this housing there is journaled a grooved wheel 11. Adjustable on the polesection 7 there is secured a clip 12, the said cliphaving out standing spaced ears 13 respectively between which is journaled a grooved wheel 14. The grooved wheels carried by the clips and the grooved wheels carried by the bracket are in alignment and any desired number of wheel carrying clips may be arranged upon the several sections of the pole. It is, of course, to be understood that any desired number of pole sections may be employed, and it will be apparent, as the nature of the invention progresses, that the pole sections may be dispensed. with when the pruning device is employed as is a pair of shears.

Passing through the shank 2 of the stationary blade and the shank 15 of the movable blade 16 there is a pivot 17. The pivot is preferably in the nature of a bolt having a squared or rectangular end received in a similarly shaped opening in the shank 2 and having a rounded extension that is received through a rounded opening in the shank 15 of the movable blade. The rounded end of the pivot is threaded and has a nut screwed thereon.

The movable blade is elliptical in plan,

having its outer face ground to its inner' rounded cutting edge and having its outer end or beak arranged at an outward angle with respect to the longitudinal plane of the blade proper. This is an important feature of the invention inasmuch as the beak movable pivot a link 21. the link to one side of the pivot 20 and 18 of the said blade, being arranged against a limb or branch of a tree to be pruned, will direct the said branch against the cutting edge of the stationary blade 1 to afford a shearing cut by the blades. In addition to this, the liability of the pointed end or beak 1.8 of the movable blade crossing the outer or under face of the stationary blade is entirely overcome.

The shank 15 terminates l9, and to this end there is in an angle end secured by a re- Passing through tion that passes through the shank 2, the said reduced portion being engaged by a suitable nut. On the body of the headed element 27 there is a roller tacts with the walls provided by the slot or opening 26. T his construction permits of freeinovement of the operating handle or .lever 25 in "the swinging thereof, and likewise reducesfriction between the pivot 25 and the said operating handle or lever.

To limit the swinging movement of the blade 16 over the blade 1, I arrange on the shank 1 a stop element 29 in the path of contact with one edge of the shank 2. also when the pruning device is not desired for use and to obviate the liability of the liilades inflicting injury to a person conveying the device, I provide the shank 2 with an open ing through which may bepassed the shank of a headed pin 30, the said pin being arranged against one edge of the operating handle or lever 25 to prevent the swinging of thesaid lever or handle.

On the outer end of the operating lever or handle there is a socket extension 31 which may be formed with or have integrally formed therewith a loop. The face of the socket on which the loop is formed is open, and the said loop is designed to have attached thereto a. cord or cable 38 which is trained over-the grooved wheels 11 and 14 when the pole is attached to the shank of the stationary handle. The cord or cable 82 has secured to its lower end a bail 33 which may be readily grasped by one hand of the operator for swinging the operating lever or handle and to cause the movable blade to be The handle'25 at 2 which 0011-.

moved to cutting position. lVhen the pole is attached and the device is operated by the c rd or cable I secure to the movable blade 16 and to one edge of the shank 2 a helical spring which, of course, causes the movableblade to ormally swung away from the stationary blade.

It is believed from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawin s that the construction and operation of the improvement as well as the advantages thereof will be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions relate, but it is to be understood that while I have herein set forth-a satisfactory embodinent of the improvement as it now appears to me, i hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of the appenoed claims.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. A pruning shears coniprising a Hat shank terminating in a blade, an arcuate blade having a siank arranged over and pivotally secured to the first mentioned aid blade having its outer end pointshank.

ls we or and disposed at an outward angle with respect to the fixed blade, a link pivotally secured to the shank of the movable blade, a

in passing through the link and loosely received the end of the shank for permit ting a limited swinging movement of the link on the shank, an operating handle .pivoted to the link and having, an arcuate slot, an anti-frictional element on the first mentioned shank and passin through said slot, means limu. the swi ging of the fixed blade with respect to the stationary blade, and spring means influencing the movable blade to open position.

2. A pruning shears comprising a flat shank terminating in a blade at one end and having a socket at its other end, an arcuate blade disposed over the fixed blade having a pointed end arranged at an outward angle with respect to the fixed blade, a shank for the arcuate blade overlying andpivotally secured to the first mentioned shank, a link pivoted to the outer'end of the last mentioned shank and susceptible to a limited swinging thereon, an operating handle pivoted to the link and having anarcuate slot therethrough, an anti-frictional roller on the first mentionedshank received through said,

slot, spring means between the movable blade and the first mentioned shank for influencing the blade to'open position, means limiting the swinging of theblade'to'closed position, and a removable means'for preventing the swinging of said blade.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FRED HJBLODGETT. 

